Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and others during the inauguration of India Maritime Week in Mumbai on October 27, 2025.(@AmitShah X/ANI Photo) | Photo Credit: ANI India aims to be among the top five ship-building countries and significantly increase the port-handling capability by building new mega ports, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Mumbai on Monday (October 27, 2025), adding that the proposed Great Nicobar project will boost the country’s maritime global trade multiple times. He was speaking at the inauguration of the fourth edition of the India Maritime Week 2025. The $5-billion Great Nicobar infrastructure project, which will include a power plant, transshipment port and airport, has been criticised by activists and local population, citing environmental concerns and violation of forest rights. He said that the government plans to increase the country’s port handling capacity to 10,000 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) from the present 2,700 MTPA (major and non-major ports combined). India’s maritime strength was due to its strategic location, he said. “Our coastline of over 11,500 km is spread across 13 coastal States. Maritime business contributes to 60 per cent of our GDP [Gross Domestic Product]. Today, over 100 countries are participating in the India Maritime Week. We have 350 speakers, over 500 companies, over one lakh…
Published: October 27, 2025 3:10 pm
Source: The Hindu — Read original